PIPER PA 24
Charles City, IA — June 25, 2015
Event Information
| Date | June 25, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA137 |
| Event ID | 20150625X72945 |
| Location | Charles City, IA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 43.07250, -92.61083 |
| Airport | Charles City Regional |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA 24 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DUSK |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate pre-flight fuel planning resulting in fuel exhaustion and a collision with terrain.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, "the airplane had a complete loss of engine power", and that he made several attempts to restart the engine that were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a field where the airplane came to rest after impacting terrain. A post-accident inspection by Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors revealed that the airplane did not have any usable fuel remaining in its tanks at the time of impact, and that the fuel tanks were undamaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.